Coleus plant named ‘UF13-42-4’

ABSTRACT

‘UF13-42-4’ is a new coleus plant distinguished by having consistent deep red leaves, vigorous but compact growth habit, and desirable non-flowering characteristics, as disclosed herein.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Solenostemon scutellarioides.

Cultivar denomination: ‘UF13-42-4’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of coleus plant named ‘UF13-42-4’. ‘UF13-42-4’ originated from an open pollination conducted in May-November 2011 in Gainesville, Fla. between the female coleus plant ‘UF12-58-2’ (unpatented) and an unknown male coleus plant. A single seedling was chosen in May 2013 for further asexual propagation in Gainesville, Fla.

‘UF13-42-4’ has been reproduced asexually for over two years through vegetative cuttings and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations. ‘UF13-42-4’ was first propagated asexually by meristem tip cuttings in May 2013 in Gainesville, Fla., and has remained true-to-type since that time.

‘UF13-42-4’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

When compared to the female parent ‘UF12-58-2’, ‘UF13-42-4’ has large, deep red colored leaves and a compact branched habit, while ‘UF12-58-2’ has slightly smaller leaves colored deep red with distinct golden yellow margins and a less vigorous and more upright plant habit.

When ‘UF13-42-4’ is compared to the commercial cultivar ‘UF06-40-1’ (unpatented; trade name Big Red Judy®), both plants have large deep red colored leaves and stems, but ‘UF13-42-4’ is more brightly colored in both sun and shade conditions. Both plants have a vigorous growth habit, but ‘UF13-42-4’ is more highly branched and compact, resulting in more densely packed foliage than ‘UF06-40-1’. ‘UF13-42-4’ has not been observed to flower, whereas ‘UF06-40-1’ flowers profusely.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of ‘UF13-42-4’ when grown under normal horticultural practices in Gainesville, Fla. ‘UF13-42-4’ has a combination of a novel, vigorous, compact, upright growth habit, excellent heat tolerance, and consistent deep red colored leaves. ‘UF13-42-4’ has superior stability in foliage color in both sun and shade conditions, maintaining stable color in all conditions. ‘UF13-42-4’ has a vigorous but compact upright growth habit with excellent lateral branching when grown as a stock plant, thus providing ample vegetative propagules for producers. Due to the plant never being observed to produce flowers in Gainesville, Fla., ‘UF13-42-4’ is desirable for long-season performance in the landscape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new coleus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs, which show the plant's form and foliage.

The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIGS. 2 and 3 were taken of plants grown for nine weeks from unrooted cuttings that were pinched once at four weeks after stick and grown five additional weeks in November 2014-January, 2015 in a poly-covered plastic greenhouse in Gainesville, Fla.

FIG. 1—shows the pedigree of the claimed plant.

FIG. 2—shows the growth habit, form, and foliage of the claimed plant.

FIG. 3—shows a close-up of the foliage.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘UF13-42-4’. The detailed description was obtained using eight-week-old plants grown from unrooted cuttings in November 2014-January of 2015 in a poly-covered plastic greenhouse in Gainesville, Fla. The plants were pinched four weeks after cuttings were stuck, then grown in 1-gallon pots for approximately five additional weeks. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 2007 5th Edition.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Lamiaceae.         -   Botanical.—Solenostemon scutellarioides.         -   Common name.—Coleus.         -   Cultivar name.—‘UF13-42-4’. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Spreading.         -   Habit.—Upright.         -   Height (from top of soil).—20-25 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—40-45 cm. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cuttings.—Vegetative meristems having at least 1 node.         -   Time to initiate roots.—3-4 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—7-10 days.         -   Root habit.—Fibrous.         -   Root description.—Callus forms in 2 to 3 days, roots             initiate in 3-4 days and become a highly branched cutting in             7-10 days. -   Branches:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—5-6 main branches per plant with             numerous side branches.         -   Branch color.—RHS N187B.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Pubescence.—Not present.         -   Stem description.—Square-shaped stem, 0.5 cm in diameter at             the soil line.         -   Branch diameter.—0.4-0.5 cm at the base of an 18-cm long             branch.         -   Branch length.—18-20 cm.         -   Internode length.—3.5-4.0 cm.         -   Anthocyanin.—N/A. -   Leaves:     -   -   Quantity of leaves per branch.—12-14.         -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Fragrance.—Not fragrant.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Length.—12-13 cm.         -   Width.—8-9 cm.         -   Apex.—Broadly acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Leaf texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Pubescence (both surfaces).—Not present.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS N186D. Lower surface: RHS             145D.         -   Venation pattern.—Upper surface: Arcuate. Lower surface:             Arcuate and reticulate.         -   Color: Immature leaf.—Upper surface: Center: RHS 184A;             margin: RHS N144A. Lower surface: Center: RHS 187B; margin:             RHS N144A.         -   Color: Mature leaf.—Upper surface: Center: RHS 185A; margin:             RHS N144C. Lower surface: RHS 187C.         -   Petiole length.—2-3 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—0.2-0.3 cm.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 183C.         -   Petiole texture.—Smooth. -   Flowers and seeds: Flowers and seeds have not been observed to date. -   Fruit/seed set: Fruit/seed not observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: Disease and insect resistance is     typical of the species, thus no claims are made of any superior     disease or insect resistance with this cultivar. The most common     insect pests observed on this plant in Gainesville, Fla. have been     long-tailed or citrus mealybugs (Pseudococcus sp.), which occur on     older stock plant material held in the greenhouse for over 3-4     months. Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (Bunyaviridae) has also been     observed in plants confined in greenhouses with mixed crops     (peppers) infected with Western flower thrips (Frankliniella     occidentalis). The most common pathogen of this species in the U.S.     is downy mildew (Peronospora lamii). This pathogen has been observed     in stock materials grown closely together in cooler growing seasons. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Solenostemon scutellarioides plant named ‘UF13-42-4’ as described and illustrated herein. 